The concept of herd immunity has sparked debate about whether it would control the spread of COVID-19. Herd immunity happens when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease, meaning spread from person to person is unlikely.

So what is known about immunity and COVID-19? On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, a Mayo Clinic hematologist and researcher, discusses how the body works to fight off disease.

Cancer. It's a word that nobody wants to hear. It's a difficult diagnosis that can leave you and your family members scared and confused. Finding guidance along the journey can help.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Q&A, Jeri Lensing and Angela Young discuss the important role of patient navigators at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Poland gives an update on progress towards a vaccine for COVID-19, discusses therapies for treating the virus and shares research on how effective face masks and physical distancing are in fighting the spread of the disease.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.

During the COVID-pandemic, we've heard a lot about telemedicine. While still a relatively new concept, advances in technology have made telemedicine a reality in hospitals, clinics, even the E-R.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Q&A, emergency room physician Dr. Christopher Russi and physician assistant Erin Mason will explain how Mayo Clinic is using telemedicine in the emergency department.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. As a baby develops during pregnancy, the left side of the heart does not form correctly. Ava Weitl, now a first grader, was born with HLHS. She had her first heart surgery the day she was born. Now she is part of pioneering research at Mayo Clinic.

On this episode of Mayo Clinic Q&A, Ava and Dr. Timothy Nelson, director of the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at Mayo Clinic, will share her story.